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Asia Times – Feb. 2, 2005
Accused Saudi appeals to US Congress
RIYADH - A prominent Saudi, accused of funding terrorism through his work with Islamic charities, has sent a message to the United State Congress.
Released to coincide with the Counter Terrorism International Conference in Saudi Arabia, the paper responds to allegations that have been made against Saudi Arabia and its religious practices since September 11.
"I believe that people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should engage in an honest and candid dialogue with the citizens of the United States and their representatives," writes the author, Soliman al-Buthi. "In this spirit, I have written this letter. I hope to inform its readers and clear up any misunderstandings that they might have regarding the religious teachings in today's Saudi Arabia."
Reviewed and approved by many senior Islamic scholars and Saudi officials, the letter confronts the allegations that Saudi Islamic fundamentalism breeds violence and that the religious practices of the kingdom are inconsistent with modernity and contemporary notions of human rights. "Our religious teachings are not against modernity, progress or development. Rather, this religious movement has led to a general renaissance in the Arabian peninsula and the Islamic world as a whole," it reads.
Although no charge has ever been brought against al-Buthi, he was recently designated by the United Nations as a funder of terrorism as a result of his volunteer work with the al-Haramain Foundation. Al-Buthi writes, "Rather than work with Saudi and other Muslim charities to ensure transparency, accountability, and best practices, the United States has imposed counter-productive measures on Saudis beyond that which even their own citizens would tolerate."
Pointing to the banning of collection boxes for the poor and consolidation of all charities and charity bank accounts under a single agency as evidence of Saudi commitment to allaying American concerns about charitable donations, al-Buthi also warns, "The common United States practice of freezing charities' and charitable officials' bank accounts based upon 'secret evidence' only serves to reinforce the image of ending faith-based giving rather than truly rooting out the evils of terror finance."
The letter concludes with an invitation to the members of the United States Congress to adapt and engage in an honest and open dialogue with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, rather than forming their opinions.
Based on the testimony of others, al-Buthi invites the US Congress to discuss their concerns directly with the Islamic scholars themselves. "Instead of rushing into a hasty judgment on this nation and these people who have been your friend and ally for over 70 years, I suggest to the members of Congress themselves visit the kingdom and observe first hand our religious systems and our way of life," he writes. "True peace can only be based upon understanding."
Click here to read Soliman al-Buthi’s complete message
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